Here's a taste

Dean walked in the front door to his condo and glanced around. Everything sat in its usual place, mail on the sideboard, house cleaned. Yet, he felt unwelcome. Six hours ago, Sally had dropped him off at the airport in Greenville. It had been hell to leave her standing there, eyes glistening with tears. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit he might have had to wipe a tear or two from his own.

After setting his bag on the floor, he fished his cell out and unlocked it. He loved the speech-activated feature. “Sally.” Immediately the phone dialed her number. Counting the rings—after five it would go to voicemail—he breathed a sigh of relief when she picked up on four. “Sally.”

“You’re home.” She sounded happy but sad at the same time.

Hearing her voice eased the ache in his chest, at least a little. “Yep, baby, I’m home.”

“Did you have a good flight?”

“Yeah, pretty good. I missed you, though. Wished you were with me.” The sad sigh from the other end made him want to take the words back.

“Please don’t say that. It’s hard enough, me being stuck here with summer school and you being over two thousand miles away, with no idea when I’ll see you again. Don’t make it harder.”

I’m such a jerk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you unhappy. Just wanted to let you know you were on my mind.” He had known the moment he arrived on Sally’s doorstep for his surprise visit he’d found the woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. The time they spent alone, the past fortnight, being together and learning everything about one another only served to heighten his feelings.

Sally sniffed. “I’ve been thinking of you, too.”

Not wanting them both to end up in tears, he decided to change topics. “Hey, I got some good news when I arrived home today.”

“Oh, really. What?”

“Guess who got nominated for a primetime Emmy?”

“Wow, that’s terrific. What did you get nominated for?”

“Outstanding Lead Actor for Thieves and Liars.”

“I loved that miniseries. You played a drug-addicted detective so well.”

He stood a little straighter, chest puffed out. “Thank you.” Dean had no idea what else to say. Sometimes he forgot she was a Mark Martin fan and had probably seen everything he’d ever done. “Anyway, I was wondering…. I know it will be right after school starts, but I hoped you might be able to get some time off to accompany me to the ceremony.”

A weird squeak accompanied an “Oh, my God.” Then silence.

He had to choke back a chuckle. “You still there?”

“Um, yeah. Sorry. Just a little shocked. You sure you want to take me?”

“Of course I want my girl there with me on what could be the biggest night of my career.” Dean had hoped their time together, enjoying each other’s bodies, might have rid Sally of some of her insecurities, but he could imagine the negative thoughts rolling around in her brain. “Please,” he begged.

“Okay,” she replied so quietly he almost didn’t hear her.

“Okay? You’re sure?”

“Yep,” she said in a much more convincing tone.

“Woohoo! We’re going to the Emmys.”

Find out where the story began

Sally Austens’ sexual experience is limited and unsatisfactory at best. Now, as she turns thirty, it looks like the relationship train has missed her stop. When a friend tells her about 1Night Stand and suggests it might just change her life, she’s skeptical but shoots for the stars when asking for her perfect date. Go big or go home, right?

Dean Martorino lives in the public eye. Surrounded on a daily basis by society’s idea of stunning beauty, he longs for a woman with curves he can get lost in. At the suggestion of his long-time friend and manager, Dean shares his secret with Madame Eve hoping she can find him a match to fill his arms and satisfy his desires.

Can Sally accept the beauty Dean sees in her long enough to curve his appetite or will they both go home hungry?

About the Author

Melissa Kendall is a forty-year-old mother of two from Perth, Western Australia, the second-most isolated capital city in the world. Predominantly a stay-at-home mum, she works a few hours a week as a software support consultant. She has always loved to read and write, and spent most of her teens writing poetry and short stories. Over the years, daily life got in the way and she lost the passion for it, but after the birth of her first child, Melissa discovered e-books and her interest in writing rekindled. She is the author of two published short stories and Matronly Duties her first full-length novel.